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Jamaica Road
South London, 1981: Daphne is the only Black girl in her class. All she wants is to keep her head down, preferably in a book. The easiest way to survive is to go unnoticed.
Daphne's attempts at invisibility are upended when a boy named Connie Small arrives from Jamaica. Connie is the opposite of small in every way: lanky, outgoing, and unapologetically himself. Daphne tries to keep her distance, but Connie is magnetic, and they form an intense bond. As they navigate growing up in a volatile, rapidly changing city, their families become close, and their friendship begins to shift into something more complicated. But when Connie reveals that he is 'nuh land' - meaning he's in England illegally - Daphne realizes that she is dangerously entangled in Connie's fragile home life. Soon, long-buried secrets in both families threaten to tear them apart permanently.
Spanning one tumultuous decade, from the industrial docklands of the Thames to the sandy beaches of Calabash Bay, Jamaica Road is a deftly plotted and emotionally expansive debut novel about race and class, the family you're born with and the family you choose and the limits of what true love can really conquer.
Daphne's attempts at invisibility are upended when a boy named Connie Small arrives from Jamaica. Connie is the opposite of small in every way: lanky, outgoing, and unapologetically himself. Daphne tries to keep her distance, but Connie is magnetic, and they form an intense bond. As they navigate growing up in a volatile, rapidly changing city, their families become close, and their friendship begins to shift into something more complicated. But when Connie reveals that he is 'nuh land' - meaning he's in England illegally - Daphne realizes that she is dangerously entangled in Connie's fragile home life. Soon, long-buried secrets in both families threaten to tear them apart permanently.
Spanning one tumultuous decade, from the industrial docklands of the Thames to the sandy beaches of Calabash Bay, Jamaica Road is a deftly plotted and emotionally expansive debut novel about race and class, the family you're born with and the family you choose and the limits of what true love can really conquer.
448 pages, Hardcover
Published June 12, 2025
97 people are currently reading
9743 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Smith
1 book52 followersLondon born to Jamaican parents, Lisa Smith is a novelist and short-story writer. Lisa worked as a documentary producer/director before turning to writing. Jamaica Road is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
October 24, 2025
once a year i allow myself to read a heart-wrenching devastating love story and then promise i'll never do it again.
and there are things about this book i really liked. i loved the quiet, bookish girl our protagonist was at the beginning, and the mixed feelings she felt as her friendship with our other main character began. i loved how unflinching the depiction of racism in london was, and the complex relationships — with her mother, grandmother, father — explored.
but as this went on, i felt the pacing got away from it. characters and interests were dropped, people changed, time jumped, and the plot went unpredictably.
i was left less devastated and more discombobulated.
bottom line: i still have my devastating love story credit to use for the year.
(3.5 / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
and there are things about this book i really liked. i loved the quiet, bookish girl our protagonist was at the beginning, and the mixed feelings she felt as her friendship with our other main character began. i loved how unflinching the depiction of racism in london was, and the complex relationships — with her mother, grandmother, father — explored.
but as this went on, i felt the pacing got away from it. characters and interests were dropped, people changed, time jumped, and the plot went unpredictably.
i was left less devastated and more discombobulated.
bottom line: i still have my devastating love story credit to use for the year.
(3.5 / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
October 29, 2025
Written with so much heart, a love story for the ages!
What a beautiful story! I did not want it to end! In Jamaica Road we are taken to South London in 1981, we meet Daphne, she is from Jamaican heritage, lives with her mom and grandmother in a British-Jamaican community. Daphne is the only Black girl in her class, and there is a lot that comes with that, to survive the next few years her plan is to keep her head down and not get noticed. This seems to be working well for her, until a new classmate from Jamaica arrives, Connie Small and she told by her teacher to give him a warm British welcome.
Everything for Daphne changes once Connie walks into her class. While she tries to keep her distance and her head down, Connie does the opposite, he sticks out, stands up for himself and pushes his friendship onto her. Connie accidently lets Daphne knows about her home situation, and the fact that he is in the UK illegally, their dynamic changes and Daphne spends a lot of her time protecting Connie as best as she can, but something things she is not able to help with- how will this affect their friendship?
I loved everything about this book. The author writes this immigration story with a fresh approach, I loved that we got a deeply moving account of what it is like for a young adult leaving the only home they know to go live in the UK and how they end up navigating the cultural changes that the racism. I felt the author did an amazing job of giving us layered characters who are doing their best, but also facing very big problems. Generally I am not here for romance, but I LOVED Connie and Daphne’s story- it was a slow burn but it burn so bright in the end.
Overall, this is a phenomenal read with themes of identity, racism, love and forgiveness. The author makes us ask the question, where is home? Who is home? And do we ever really go home?
What a beautiful story! I did not want it to end! In Jamaica Road we are taken to South London in 1981, we meet Daphne, she is from Jamaican heritage, lives with her mom and grandmother in a British-Jamaican community. Daphne is the only Black girl in her class, and there is a lot that comes with that, to survive the next few years her plan is to keep her head down and not get noticed. This seems to be working well for her, until a new classmate from Jamaica arrives, Connie Small and she told by her teacher to give him a warm British welcome.
Everything for Daphne changes once Connie walks into her class. While she tries to keep her distance and her head down, Connie does the opposite, he sticks out, stands up for himself and pushes his friendship onto her. Connie accidently lets Daphne knows about her home situation, and the fact that he is in the UK illegally, their dynamic changes and Daphne spends a lot of her time protecting Connie as best as she can, but something things she is not able to help with- how will this affect their friendship?
I loved everything about this book. The author writes this immigration story with a fresh approach, I loved that we got a deeply moving account of what it is like for a young adult leaving the only home they know to go live in the UK and how they end up navigating the cultural changes that the racism. I felt the author did an amazing job of giving us layered characters who are doing their best, but also facing very big problems. Generally I am not here for romance, but I LOVED Connie and Daphne’s story- it was a slow burn but it burn so bright in the end.
Overall, this is a phenomenal read with themes of identity, racism, love and forgiveness. The author makes us ask the question, where is home? Who is home? And do we ever really go home?
July 29, 2025
This is one arc that almost got away! Publishers don't always offer accessible copies through NetGalley, and while I've learned how to identify them now (PDF files are inaccessible in either Kindle Reader or the NetGalley app), I requested this one long ago.
I liked this book a lot, and I admired it for its style. The author's choice to write the bulk of the dialog in Jamaican Patois really worked for me, and eventually became my access point into the story and characters. And I'm not usually a dialog lover!
The love story central to this novel stretched with ups and downs -- an absolutely devastating story that will stay with me for a long long time.
I recommend JAMAICA ROAD to fans of coming of age stories mixed with romance, devastating romances, and romance stories complicated by a setting in conflict. Readers who enjoyed The Brief and Wonderful Life of Oscar Wao will find something to enjoy here.
Thank you to the author Lisa Smith, publishers Alfred A. Knopf, and NetGalley for a digital arc of JAMAICA ROAD. I found an accessible copy on Libby. All views are mine.
I liked this book a lot, and I admired it for its style. The author's choice to write the bulk of the dialog in Jamaican Patois really worked for me, and eventually became my access point into the story and characters. And I'm not usually a dialog lover!
The love story central to this novel stretched with ups and downs -- an absolutely devastating story that will stay with me for a long long time.
I recommend JAMAICA ROAD to fans of coming of age stories mixed with romance, devastating romances, and romance stories complicated by a setting in conflict. Readers who enjoyed The Brief and Wonderful Life of Oscar Wao will find something to enjoy here.
Thank you to the author Lisa Smith, publishers Alfred A. Knopf, and NetGalley for a digital arc of JAMAICA ROAD. I found an accessible copy on Libby. All views are mine.
January 28, 2025
I enjoyed a lot of things about this immersive historical novel about a deep and abiding friendship between a Black Jamaican British girl, Daphne, and an undocumented first-generation Jamaican boy, Connie.
This book really shone in its emotional resonance of the stages of their friendship from platonic love to something more romantic, and the respect and tenderness they had for each other through their growing pains and as they navigated their differences. It also worked well in its descriptions of Jamaican immigrant culture, food, and the blatant racism they faced in London of the 1980s. I appreciated the history of racist harassment by the police and the ways in which immigrants stood up for their rights. It's a message that resonates with current events in the US.
Parts I struggled with were the stereotypical portrait of Connie's stepfather, who abused and controlled his mom for decades, and I found the ending very unsatisfying. The transitions could also be abrupt as we traveled to different pivotal events in Daphne's life. At times it read more like a memoir. I also appreciated that the dialogue was largely in Jamaican Patois, but it made it difficult to understand for me. The writing style didn't flow as much as I usually prefer, making it difficult for me to focus on the story.
It was refreshing to see this time period and place in fiction though. I've never read a novel before set in 1980s Jamaican community in southeast London and I was glad to have found this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book really shone in its emotional resonance of the stages of their friendship from platonic love to something more romantic, and the respect and tenderness they had for each other through their growing pains and as they navigated their differences. It also worked well in its descriptions of Jamaican immigrant culture, food, and the blatant racism they faced in London of the 1980s. I appreciated the history of racist harassment by the police and the ways in which immigrants stood up for their rights. It's a message that resonates with current events in the US.
Parts I struggled with were the stereotypical portrait of Connie's stepfather, who abused and controlled his mom for decades, and I found the ending very unsatisfying. The transitions could also be abrupt as we traveled to different pivotal events in Daphne's life. At times it read more like a memoir. I also appreciated that the dialogue was largely in Jamaican Patois, but it made it difficult to understand for me. The writing style didn't flow as much as I usually prefer, making it difficult for me to focus on the story.
It was refreshing to see this time period and place in fiction though. I've never read a novel before set in 1980s Jamaican community in southeast London and I was glad to have found this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 7, 2025
4 stars.
November 2, 2025
4.5⭐️
Im grappling with the end, it feels sudden, like im missing a critical part of that very last scene. Otherwise, this book will easily be on my top favorites list this year. written with so much care and passion for family, community, racial and political tension, the complexities of relationships, young love, but most of all this is a true immigrant story about home!
Home: sometimes its where you're most loved by the relatives you were born into, other times its with complete strangers that confirms that blood doesn't always mean family, most times its the place where your roots and culture formed the foundation of who you are, who you've become.
Jamaica Road will challenge you to consider the choices and perspectives of couples involved in intimate partner violence and the devastating consequences that often result from these choices, all in the name of trying to have a better life or giving children a better future. LOVED THIS!
Im grappling with the end, it feels sudden, like im missing a critical part of that very last scene. Otherwise, this book will easily be on my top favorites list this year. written with so much care and passion for family, community, racial and political tension, the complexities of relationships, young love, but most of all this is a true immigrant story about home!
Home: sometimes its where you're most loved by the relatives you were born into, other times its with complete strangers that confirms that blood doesn't always mean family, most times its the place where your roots and culture formed the foundation of who you are, who you've become.
Jamaica Road will challenge you to consider the choices and perspectives of couples involved in intimate partner violence and the devastating consequences that often result from these choices, all in the name of trying to have a better life or giving children a better future. LOVED THIS!
June 20, 2025
Jamaica Road presents Daphne and Connie's story as it evolves in a neighborhood of primarily Jamaican immigrants during the Tatcher years. As the author notes, although the characters are fictional, the history and references to victims of racist violence are real. The two meet as 12-year-olds, become one another's best friend, embodying the events of their families and neighbors as the decade unfolds. Lisa Smith has brought this vibrant community to life with all its charms as well as its problems, problems that are increased merely by the color of one's skin and the dangers inherent in just walking innocently down a street. Connie has the additional restriction of dealing with his mother's and his immigration status as well as life with a particularly manipulative, brutal stepfather. What Smith has done here is keep a reader riveted, even allowing her characters to speak in their accustomed patois, adding verisimilitude to the text. Highly recommended.
November 11, 2025
3.5 stars
Jamaica Road is a sweet story about budding friendship and love. It was predictable at times. The plot meandered along, but it was endearing. The evolution of Daphne and Connie as people was well done. The characters make the story. The secondary characters were well done, which is always a favorite of mine in literature. The plot deals with heavy topics; undocumented status, domestic violence, and racism. I enjoyed how Smith blended together real events from the UK. I have only a tiny amount of knowledge about the Black/Caribbean British experience in the 20th century.
Lisa Smith has a great writing voice. I enjoyed it, as an immigration story. Being about to see the perspective of first generation and second generation immigrants blended together was great. I think it was a good touch. Overall it was a sweet story that will touch you as a a reader.
Jamaica Road is a sweet story about budding friendship and love. It was predictable at times. The plot meandered along, but it was endearing. The evolution of Daphne and Connie as people was well done. The characters make the story. The secondary characters were well done, which is always a favorite of mine in literature. The plot deals with heavy topics; undocumented status, domestic violence, and racism. I enjoyed how Smith blended together real events from the UK. I have only a tiny amount of knowledge about the Black/Caribbean British experience in the 20th century.
Lisa Smith has a great writing voice. I enjoyed it, as an immigration story. Being about to see the perspective of first generation and second generation immigrants blended together was great. I think it was a good touch. Overall it was a sweet story that will touch you as a a reader.
December 19, 2025
probably one of my favorite reads of 2025. The pace, history and romance were great. The ending, the last 10% felt a little rushed.
April 18, 2025
Jamaica Road hits like a quiet storm—slow to ignite, then delivering an emotional gut punch. Set in 1980s South London, it follows Daphne, a reserved Black girl who is just trying to go unnoticed, until Connie, a bold and captivating Jamaican boy, enters her life and changes everything.
The book delves into themes of race, identity, immigration, and love without being preachy.
Lisa Smith uses her words deliberately; every moment matters. This isn’t just a coming-of-age story—it’s a survival story. It’s about discovering your voice in a world that seeks to silence you.
The book delves into themes of race, identity, immigration, and love without being preachy.
Lisa Smith uses her words deliberately; every moment matters. This isn’t just a coming-of-age story—it’s a survival story. It’s about discovering your voice in a world that seeks to silence you.
June 9, 2025
This book has a big impact on the complexity of emotions. The tension is high with the strengths and struggles of relationships.
Daphne was introduced to a new student, Cornelius (Connie) Small, who was a tall 12-year-old. He was now the second Black person in her class and wanted to be her friend as he figured they were both Jamaican. Yet, she made it clear that even though her grandmother was from Jamaica, she was born and raised in London and 100 percent English. He was rather annoying but found a way to get her attention.
There were only a handful of characters in this story. Each one was trying to find their way in London which was petrifying at times. They were Black and faced serious issues of racial prejudice. It was controlled by the white majority and police enforcers.
The author highlighted the Brixton riots in 1981 with the dark feelings of confusion, fear and hatred. I had no idea that there was a huge problem in England much like the US. The country was divided and there was no trust with the authorities. Blacks were targeted with searches and too many times accused when they were innocent.
The story was well written with Jamaican Patois -- like broken English but referenced the rich culture. However, the language at the same time slowed down the pace. I found it to be very depressing with the ongoing hardships they faced.
Daphne was trying to find love in her life yet, she instead stumbled upon all sorts of troubling uncertainties. One fear was from Connie’s stepfather, an undocumented immigrant. It felt timely with what’s now happening in our country. It was heartbreaking with relentless obstacles of racial discrimination.
My thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 15, 2025.
Daphne was introduced to a new student, Cornelius (Connie) Small, who was a tall 12-year-old. He was now the second Black person in her class and wanted to be her friend as he figured they were both Jamaican. Yet, she made it clear that even though her grandmother was from Jamaica, she was born and raised in London and 100 percent English. He was rather annoying but found a way to get her attention.
There were only a handful of characters in this story. Each one was trying to find their way in London which was petrifying at times. They were Black and faced serious issues of racial prejudice. It was controlled by the white majority and police enforcers.
The author highlighted the Brixton riots in 1981 with the dark feelings of confusion, fear and hatred. I had no idea that there was a huge problem in England much like the US. The country was divided and there was no trust with the authorities. Blacks were targeted with searches and too many times accused when they were innocent.
The story was well written with Jamaican Patois -- like broken English but referenced the rich culture. However, the language at the same time slowed down the pace. I found it to be very depressing with the ongoing hardships they faced.
Daphne was trying to find love in her life yet, she instead stumbled upon all sorts of troubling uncertainties. One fear was from Connie’s stepfather, an undocumented immigrant. It felt timely with what’s now happening in our country. It was heartbreaking with relentless obstacles of racial discrimination.
My thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 15, 2025.
July 25, 2025
@aaknopf@prhaudio from the bottom of my heart, thank you!
friends, i absolutely loved this book. @lisa4884smith wrote such a powerful and emotional story that will continue to stay with me forever. jamaica road is about love, friendship, identity, and the way our past shapes who we become. daphne and connie's bond was so raw and real-it was beautiful to watch them grow together, drift apart, and still find their way back to each other.
the audiobook, narrated by@sapphirejoy_, was phenomenal. she brought the story to life with so much heart and emotion. her use of jamaican dialect was authentic to these characters
- adding so much richness and truth to them that made me feel like i was right there. the way she captured the rhythm, tone, and cultural elements was perfection. the culture throughout the book felt real and deeply rooted. from the language to the community dynamics, it was clear that the author wrote this with love and care. i felt fully immersed in south london and the jamaican community at the heart of it.
this book made me feel a lot more than i was expecting. at its core, it's a beautiful love story, and i'm honestly so glad i read it!
⭐️ from the start of the story— 5 stars, easy.
a few things before i go:
1. if you plan to read this, promise me you'll use the audiobook format, pair it with the physical and come back & thank me for an amazing experience later.
2. if you have this, please amplify it because it deserves to be talked about! everyone go find a copy and read it and share it!
friends, i absolutely loved this book. @lisa4884smith wrote such a powerful and emotional story that will continue to stay with me forever. jamaica road is about love, friendship, identity, and the way our past shapes who we become. daphne and connie's bond was so raw and real-it was beautiful to watch them grow together, drift apart, and still find their way back to each other.
the audiobook, narrated by@sapphirejoy_, was phenomenal. she brought the story to life with so much heart and emotion. her use of jamaican dialect was authentic to these characters
- adding so much richness and truth to them that made me feel like i was right there. the way she captured the rhythm, tone, and cultural elements was perfection. the culture throughout the book felt real and deeply rooted. from the language to the community dynamics, it was clear that the author wrote this with love and care. i felt fully immersed in south london and the jamaican community at the heart of it.
this book made me feel a lot more than i was expecting. at its core, it's a beautiful love story, and i'm honestly so glad i read it!
⭐️ from the start of the story— 5 stars, easy.
a few things before i go:
1. if you plan to read this, promise me you'll use the audiobook format, pair it with the physical and come back & thank me for an amazing experience later.
2. if you have this, please amplify it because it deserves to be talked about! everyone go find a copy and read it and share it!
August 14, 2025
A really moving story about growing into yourself when the world around you doesn’t quite know what to do with you. Set in 1980s South London, it follows Daphne, a girl born to Jamaican immigrants trying sense of her identity, her friendships, and the world around her. When Connie, an undocumented boy with a complicated home life, enters her life, everything shifts. Messy and beautiful yet unfolding against a backdrop of racial tension, cultural shifts, and family drama.
If you’re into audiobooks, this particular narration is an absolute standout. Adored her added heart and emotion to the story, especially through her use of Jamaican dialect. It kind of made me feel like you’re right there in South London with Daphne and Connie.
The slower pace of the book might not be for everyone, but between the immersive writing and the phenomenal narration, it’s worth it.
If you’re into audiobooks, this particular narration is an absolute standout. Adored her added heart and emotion to the story, especially through her use of Jamaican dialect. It kind of made me feel like you’re right there in South London with Daphne and Connie.
The slower pace of the book might not be for everyone, but between the immersive writing and the phenomenal narration, it’s worth it.
August 20, 2025
Jamaica Road
Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith is an epic love story about two best friends Daphne, born in England to a single Jamaican mom and Connie, born in Jamaica and recently moved to England.
Their story begins in middle school, when Connie arrives in Daphne’s classroom as an awkward foreigner and she is assigned to help him assimilate to his new school. Although she is embarrassed by his ill fitting clothes and wrong type of shoes and the fact that he is not at all the typical teenager she aspires to be (and be seen with), his charming personality and handsome dimpled face win her over and they become the best of friends.
The novel brings us through their teen years, Daphne’s relationship with a fellow student whose racist family challenges Daphne to examine how she views her identity as a black woman. We follow the couple through their college years, where they are affected by racial protests and unrest in London, domestic violence in their families and finally a trip to Jamaica.
I don’t want to spoil the story but I was rooting for them all the way through. I love Jamaica and this book gave me more than I hoped for by including food, culture and Jamaica patois which really created a special reading experience.
I was sad for it to end and I am still thinking about Daphne and Connie and what will happen to them please write a sequel!!! I’ll be your first reader!!!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith is an epic love story about two best friends Daphne, born in England to a single Jamaican mom and Connie, born in Jamaica and recently moved to England.
Their story begins in middle school, when Connie arrives in Daphne’s classroom as an awkward foreigner and she is assigned to help him assimilate to his new school. Although she is embarrassed by his ill fitting clothes and wrong type of shoes and the fact that he is not at all the typical teenager she aspires to be (and be seen with), his charming personality and handsome dimpled face win her over and they become the best of friends.
The novel brings us through their teen years, Daphne’s relationship with a fellow student whose racist family challenges Daphne to examine how she views her identity as a black woman. We follow the couple through their college years, where they are affected by racial protests and unrest in London, domestic violence in their families and finally a trip to Jamaica.
I don’t want to spoil the story but I was rooting for them all the way through. I love Jamaica and this book gave me more than I hoped for by including food, culture and Jamaica patois which really created a special reading experience.
I was sad for it to end and I am still thinking about Daphne and Connie and what will happen to them please write a sequel!!! I’ll be your first reader!!!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
September 1, 2025
A beautifully written coming of age, love story. I listened to this immersively, and I loved the Jamaican Patois that was included as it lent itself to the authenticity of the story. Love, family, friendship and difficult decisions about who we place first in our lives are beautifully illustrated in this novel. I definitely recommend it.
July 15, 2025
This is a thoughtful and heartfelt book about a community of Jamaican immigrants living in South London in the 1980s and 90s. Our protagonist Daphne starts out as the only Black girl in her class, coping with her bully classmates by burying her nose in a book, until Cornelius “Connie” Small enters her life. Connie’s complicated family life and his sunny disposition draw Daphne to him, and they soon become inseparable. Their relationship has its ups and downs, as neighborhood racial tensions rise and family secrets come out into the open, but the strength of their connection always shines through.
I was sucked directly into Daphne’s head from the beginning, and it was satisfying to see her change from a quiet child to an outspoken young woman. Her family was a highlight of the book as well, with all of their complex dynamics and unconditional love (Miss Gladys was a particular favourite). Many of Daphne’s closest friends and family spoke Jamaican Patois, and I loved the representation of this language, though the dialogue took some extra time for me to understand.
However, as much as I enjoyed the first half of the book, I struggled with the pacing of the second half. We spent a lot of time on Daphne and Connie’s childhood in the beginning but suddenly skipped years ahead at seemingly random times. The characters grew up without the reader, and I ended up feeling disconnected from their lives, which made the lighting-fast ending all the more disorienting.
I ultimately have mixed feelings about this book; I loved parts of it, but other parts felt uneven to me. Still, it’s a strong emotionally-driven debut from an author with a compelling voice, and I look forward to reading more from Lisa Smith.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was sucked directly into Daphne’s head from the beginning, and it was satisfying to see her change from a quiet child to an outspoken young woman. Her family was a highlight of the book as well, with all of their complex dynamics and unconditional love (Miss Gladys was a particular favourite). Many of Daphne’s closest friends and family spoke Jamaican Patois, and I loved the representation of this language, though the dialogue took some extra time for me to understand.
However, as much as I enjoyed the first half of the book, I struggled with the pacing of the second half. We spent a lot of time on Daphne and Connie’s childhood in the beginning but suddenly skipped years ahead at seemingly random times. The characters grew up without the reader, and I ended up feeling disconnected from their lives, which made the lighting-fast ending all the more disorienting.
I ultimately have mixed feelings about this book; I loved parts of it, but other parts felt uneven to me. Still, it’s a strong emotionally-driven debut from an author with a compelling voice, and I look forward to reading more from Lisa Smith.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 20, 2025
Jamaica Road gives the reader first hand insight into the lives of a family of illegal immigrants. Although every story is different, this one sent me spiraling emotionally. A few of the themes explored in this book are racism, domestic violence and murder. This was a really great read.
November 27, 2025
Now this is the kind of love story I can get behind!
A MUST- READ CARIBBEAN BOOK! One of the bests this year. It hit every emotion! Daphne….Black British, Jamaican heritage and Connie…Jamaican-born, raised in South London; grow from childhood best friends to lovers, all while navigating racial tension, messy family dynamics, loss, visa issues, and the wider immigrant struggle.
The writing was beautiful, the storytelling so full and real that I felt every joy and every heartbreak. And that ending? It broke me and confused me, I had to reread it but everything else was absolute A1.
A MUST- READ CARIBBEAN BOOK! One of the bests this year. It hit every emotion! Daphne….Black British, Jamaican heritage and Connie…Jamaican-born, raised in South London; grow from childhood best friends to lovers, all while navigating racial tension, messy family dynamics, loss, visa issues, and the wider immigrant struggle.
The writing was beautiful, the storytelling so full and real that I felt every joy and every heartbreak. And that ending? It broke me and confused me, I had to reread it but everything else was absolute A1.
Want to read
May 27, 2025A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 23, 2025
4.25 stars.
This debut novel was very interesting. The author did an excellent job pulling the reader into 1980s London and into the racism and racial unrest experienced by the Jamaican British community living there.
The main characters, Daphne - a British woman of Jamaican heritage, and Connie, an undocumented Jamaican man living in London, are the heart of the story and they are believable and likeable. The story is told largely through Daphne’s eyes, from when she met Connie when they were both twelve years old, through to their lives as young adults involved in a romantic relationship. It would have been interesting to also see Connie’s point of view in the story.
Daphne’s and Connie’s story touches on issues that remain relevant today: systemic racism, police treatment of young Black men, domestic violence, and discrimination of non-white immigrants. I found it interesting to see the many parallels between the 1980s and the 2020s.
The use of Jamaican patois interspersed throughout the story was difficult to decipher at times but it did add to the authenticity of the characters. I understood what the author was trying to show by having the characters speak with a mix of “ proper” English and patois - often in the same sentence - but it did interrupt the storytelling for me at times.
Overall, this was a fascinating read that kept my interest though it did slow in the middle. I enjoy stories like this which bring parts of history that I had heard of vividly to life.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
This debut novel was very interesting. The author did an excellent job pulling the reader into 1980s London and into the racism and racial unrest experienced by the Jamaican British community living there.
The main characters, Daphne - a British woman of Jamaican heritage, and Connie, an undocumented Jamaican man living in London, are the heart of the story and they are believable and likeable. The story is told largely through Daphne’s eyes, from when she met Connie when they were both twelve years old, through to their lives as young adults involved in a romantic relationship. It would have been interesting to also see Connie’s point of view in the story.
Daphne’s and Connie’s story touches on issues that remain relevant today: systemic racism, police treatment of young Black men, domestic violence, and discrimination of non-white immigrants. I found it interesting to see the many parallels between the 1980s and the 2020s.
The use of Jamaican patois interspersed throughout the story was difficult to decipher at times but it did add to the authenticity of the characters. I understood what the author was trying to show by having the characters speak with a mix of “ proper” English and patois - often in the same sentence - but it did interrupt the storytelling for me at times.
Overall, this was a fascinating read that kept my interest though it did slow in the middle. I enjoy stories like this which bring parts of history that I had heard of vividly to life.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
August 21, 2025
Set against the backdrop of the racial tensions of the 1980s, Jamaica Road is a coming-of-age novel exploring growing up within a tight-knit Jamaican immigrant community in southeast London. As the new student, Connie, a recent immigrant from Jamaica, is forced to sit beside 12-year-old Daphne, the only Black girl in her class. Over the decade or so that this novel covers, we witness the friendship and struggles they face with their families and the wider community.
Jamaica Road is very much grounded in truth. There's the tug of life and dreams of a former homeland. There's the vibrant community of southeast London. And there are the real-life events of being stopped by police for merely being Black. Yet there's so much love within Jamaica Road.
I appreciated how we came to see Daphne in particular working through her feelings of growing up Black whilst trying to comprehend the events of her community, be it the New Cross house fire, the Brixton Riots, and the murder of Stephen Lawrence. I really appreciated being able to bear witness to Daphne seeing and learning for herself the systemic racism that affects the Black populace. Also, risks of living as an illegal immigrant are tenderly handled.
I highly recommend Jamaica Road, and I look forward to any future publications Lisa Smith puts out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Jamaica Road is very much grounded in truth. There's the tug of life and dreams of a former homeland. There's the vibrant community of southeast London. And there are the real-life events of being stopped by police for merely being Black. Yet there's so much love within Jamaica Road.
I appreciated how we came to see Daphne in particular working through her feelings of growing up Black whilst trying to comprehend the events of her community, be it the New Cross house fire, the Brixton Riots, and the murder of Stephen Lawrence. I really appreciated being able to bear witness to Daphne seeing and learning for herself the systemic racism that affects the Black populace. Also, risks of living as an illegal immigrant are tenderly handled.
I highly recommend Jamaica Road, and I look forward to any future publications Lisa Smith puts out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2025
A stunning debut! This multi-generational, emotional read is somehow both plain-spoken and poetic.
Yes, this is a love story, but not just a romance. We also see so many forms of love (platonic, filial, multiracial in a time of blatant racism, unhealthy/harmful, patriotic, etc.) and passion (cultural, academic and vocational) illustrated with such clarity and purpose in this novel. It's actually brilliant how the author was able to give each aspect/couple/relationship its own shine. Pacing and development were brilliant.
Writing a dialect that has no agreed upon standard can be so tricky, but the language felt right. Jamaicans and British-Jamaicans will feel seen and heard.
This story is sure to resonate with many people:
- Black British people (at least 3 generations worth)
- Caribbean migrants
- anyone who has seen or experienced abuse (in society or relationships)
It's so sad that some of the racial injustices and profiling that were described here, in the 1980-1990s, are still seen in recent Black-British books like Open Water. It's notable how the MMCs in both eras are forced to be strong, wearied by this reality, even as they battle fear and trauma every day.
The cover design is also very clever. I appreciate it more after having read the book.
Can't wait to read more from this author!
Yes, this is a love story, but not just a romance. We also see so many forms of love (platonic, filial, multiracial in a time of blatant racism, unhealthy/harmful, patriotic, etc.) and passion (cultural, academic and vocational) illustrated with such clarity and purpose in this novel. It's actually brilliant how the author was able to give each aspect/couple/relationship its own shine. Pacing and development were brilliant.
Writing a dialect that has no agreed upon standard can be so tricky, but the language felt right. Jamaicans and British-Jamaicans will feel seen and heard.
This story is sure to resonate with many people:
- Black British people (at least 3 generations worth)
- Caribbean migrants
- anyone who has seen or experienced abuse (in society or relationships)
It's so sad that some of the racial injustices and profiling that were described here, in the 1980-1990s, are still seen in recent Black-British books like Open Water. It's notable how the MMCs in both eras are forced to be strong, wearied by this reality, even as they battle fear and trauma every day.
The cover design is also very clever. I appreciate it more after having read the book.
Can't wait to read more from this author!
July 15, 2025
I was so excited to review this new novel by Lisa Smith. To be transparent I am Jamaican. It has everything I like in the Jamaican-British story. Set in the early 80s, we meet Daphne (British born) as she tries to navigate growing up and attending a school where the other kids are not too nice. Added to this daily stress are the racial tensions that we all know run through the veins of the master colonizers. Then in comes Connie, a tall, lanky Plimsoll wearing transplant from Jamaica with a family secret.
Some may have difficulty with the dialogue, which was music to my ears. So often, Caribbean authors, especially from Jamaica, are forced to anglicize their work (native dialect) to satisfy the "western" market. I just hope that the audiobook has an actual Jamaican or Jamaican-Brit do the narration. Can you image the 80s reggae soundtrack that would accompany this book?
Smith's Jamaica Road is emotional, evocative, immersive, and transformative coming of age tale. It was an excellent read.
Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Lisa Smith and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for a digital copy of #JamaicaRoad exchange for my honest opinion.
Some may have difficulty with the dialogue, which was music to my ears. So often, Caribbean authors, especially from Jamaica, are forced to anglicize their work (native dialect) to satisfy the "western" market. I just hope that the audiobook has an actual Jamaican or Jamaican-Brit do the narration. Can you image the 80s reggae soundtrack that would accompany this book?
Smith's Jamaica Road is emotional, evocative, immersive, and transformative coming of age tale. It was an excellent read.
Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Lisa Smith and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for a digital copy of #JamaicaRoad exchange for my honest opinion.
April 28, 2025
WHAT. A. BOOK.
This is seriously one of the best books I've read in a while. It made me feel ALL the feels. It's the story of Daphne, who's black British- of Jamaican heritage but born in the UK and Connie, a Jamaican who moves to South London as a child to be with his mum and her new husband and child.
We follow them on their journey from best friends to lovers through different stages of life and with a backdrop of so much racial tension, family tension, loss, visa issues and the general immigrant struggle.
This book was well written and the story was well told. My heart was moved by the struggle of each character and I came close to shedding rears a few times. I was utterly heartbroken about how it ended too.
The author did a marvellous job of capturing joy and pain. Community, hope and love. It all felt very very real. She did an excellent job with the subplots and nothing felt unresolved.
Definitely pick this one up and I'm looking forward to seeing it on bestseller lists!
This is seriously one of the best books I've read in a while. It made me feel ALL the feels. It's the story of Daphne, who's black British- of Jamaican heritage but born in the UK and Connie, a Jamaican who moves to South London as a child to be with his mum and her new husband and child.
We follow them on their journey from best friends to lovers through different stages of life and with a backdrop of so much racial tension, family tension, loss, visa issues and the general immigrant struggle.
This book was well written and the story was well told. My heart was moved by the struggle of each character and I came close to shedding rears a few times. I was utterly heartbroken about how it ended too.
The author did a marvellous job of capturing joy and pain. Community, hope and love. It all felt very very real. She did an excellent job with the subplots and nothing felt unresolved.
Definitely pick this one up and I'm looking forward to seeing it on bestseller lists!
July 6, 2025
What a great novel. I enjoyed following Daphne, a young British-Jamaican girl who befriends Connie, a boy newly arrived at her school from Jamaica, and his mother Althea, a hairdresser with a violent and controlling husband. Daphne is a great character and we follow her through high school, in the 1980s, uni and as she starts her career. Lisa Smith weaves a lot of news items and current affairs in the book, the New Cross house fire of 1981, the Brixton riots, the murder of several young Black people, including Stephen Lawrence in Eltham... Through Mark, a young boy who seems unsure about his family's racism but joins in on it, she brings a lot of nuance. Despite the seriousness of the topics, it was an easy book to get into and I found it really engrossing and well-written. I loved as well that it was mostly set in South East London, in an area I know well, I felt like I was back there with Daphne.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
December 24, 2025
The central romantic relationship never really took off for me, as the book focused instead on the social issues (riots, police racism, immigrant experiences and naturalization process) at the expense of that development.
It did an excellent job of those aspects, I learned a lot about the history of racism in England, and the way gatekeeping citizenship can exacerbate abusive relationships. More of an issues book than a character book, as the characters primarily served as a conduit to experience history.
Super important stuff, so we probably didn’t need to push a romantic sub plot which read as an afterthought and yet took place of pride in resolution.
It did an excellent job of those aspects, I learned a lot about the history of racism in England, and the way gatekeeping citizenship can exacerbate abusive relationships. More of an issues book than a character book, as the characters primarily served as a conduit to experience history.
Super important stuff, so we probably didn’t need to push a romantic sub plot which read as an afterthought and yet took place of pride in resolution.
March 6, 2025
Publishing July 15, 2025
If you’ve enjoyed White Teeth by Zadie Smith, you will love this. Jamaica Road is a compelling story of two friends, Daphne and Connie, growing up in London amidst the backdrop of high racial tensions. We follow these two throughout their early teens to mid-twenties. I really enjoyed the immersion into Jamaican culture, specifically Daphne’s grandma.
Overall, throughly enjoyed the first 75% of the novel, but it fell a bit flat towards the end - the abusive stepdad thing was a bit OTT in general. The ending is too ambiguous and I feel we deserved something more concrete and less stereotypical.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy through Netgalley.
If you’ve enjoyed White Teeth by Zadie Smith, you will love this. Jamaica Road is a compelling story of two friends, Daphne and Connie, growing up in London amidst the backdrop of high racial tensions. We follow these two throughout their early teens to mid-twenties. I really enjoyed the immersion into Jamaican culture, specifically Daphne’s grandma.
Overall, throughly enjoyed the first 75% of the novel, but it fell a bit flat towards the end - the abusive stepdad thing was a bit OTT in general. The ending is too ambiguous and I feel we deserved something more concrete and less stereotypical.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy through Netgalley.
September 17, 2025
I was really impressed by this book and found it to be deeper than expected. I went into it understanding that it would have a romance aspect, but that really didn’t come into play until later in the book. The beginning really leaned into the historical and societal aspects of the setting and created a great foundation for character development. I enjoyed the main characters and felt like I truly learned a lot from this book. My only gripe is with the crazy change of pace in the ending and the cliffhangers we were left with.
4.25/5 ⭐️
4.25/5 ⭐️
August 10, 2025
complicado, complicado... toda a história até 1985 é boa, detalhada, você se apega. aí depois disso dá uma destrambelhada e não volta bem aos eixos. ficou muito picotada, e em diversos momentos já mais pro fim da história ficou muito corrido, com cortes de tempo que apresentavam os personagems mais contando do que mostrando. perdi muito da admiração que eu nutri pela daphne porque ela se manteve imatura mesmo já adulta. dito isso o livro é bem escrito, só não foi muito satisfatório pra mim. 3.75
September 26, 2025
This novel puts you in the lives of Daphne and Connie as they grow up in the 1970s South London as Jamaican immigrants. Their friendship develops alongside the extreme racism towards Black people in London and the treatment people without legal status. There is a lot of love, pain, confusion, and anger over the course of this book, but the very realistic ending felt satisfying, if not bittersweet.
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